The document discusses the different tenses in English - past, present, and future - and their simple, continuous, and perfect forms. It provides examples for each tense, explaining how they are used to indicate the time and type of action being described. Specifically, it outlines 12 tenses total based on combining time (past, present, future) with type (simple, continuous, perfect).

2.  An action expressed in the verb can take
place in three different times-
past, present, future-and ‘in each time’ it
(the action) can be of three different types-
simple, continuous, perfect. Three times
with their types are called tenses.

3. Past Present Future
Simple I played I play I shall play
Continuous I was playing I am playing I shall be
playing
Perfect I had played for I have played. I shall have
two hours by He has played played if you
that time. I had for ten hours.* reach late.***
been playing for I have been
two hours when playing for ten
ravi came hours.**
* We use this form for the present perfect tense for
laying stress on the time or duration of the action.

4.  ** We use this form for the present perfect
tense for laying stress on the continuity of
the action. This tense is called the present
perfect continuous tense also.
 *** ‘If you reach late’. We do not use the
future perfect tense for the dependent
clauses of time or condition.
 ‘TIME’ AND ‘TYPE’ OF AN ACTION=TENSE

5.  Simple: simple type is expressed directly.
Example of simple type
•I passed my B.A. examination
in 1995.
•Raja will play hockey.
 Continuous: Continuous type is that which
is incomplete. Examples of Continuous type
•Radha was cooking food.
•Ravi is reading.
 Perfect:
Perfect type isExampleswhich is
that of Perfect type
rounded off or complete.has been writing for two
•Ravi
hours.
•Ravi has written for two
hours.

6.  ‘Do’ is brought from I play hockey
outside for making  Do you play hockey?
questions & negative  Ravi does not play
sentences of positive hockey.
assertive sentences in
the simple present
and the simplest past
tenses I do see.
 The auxiliary ‘do’  I did see.
makes special
emphatic tenses in
the simple present
and the past

7.  There is one more tense. It is called ‘the
Future in the past tense’. This tense marks
an action as future from a past point of
view. It is used.
1. In simple sentences and in the main
When summer came, they
clauses of complex sentences. to make
‘would begin’
preparations to mobilize the
army from Delhi to Shimla.
2. In subordinate clauses.
I knew that you
‘would come’.
I ‘should
like’(should have
liked) to tell you.

8. PAST EXAMPLES
 simple past tense: it is used to •Raj killed a snake yesterday.
indicate ‘direct action’ which
happened once, or which •Did you get your car?
happened at regular intervals •Shah Rukh Khan studied in St.
in some past time: Columba’s School, New Delhi.
 past continuous tense: it is
used for indicating an action •He ‘was reading’ his book when I
that was incomplete at some met him in the morning.
past time.
 past perfect tense: it is used •By the year 233 B.C. Alexander
for an act in the past, which the Great had already come to
took place prior to some India.
intermediate time of that past
time. Three types of past 1. The time of the arrival of
perfect tense are Alexander
1. The time of the action. 2. One intermediate time(233
2. Some intermediate time. B.C.)
3. The time of writing or 3. The time of writing.
speaking.

9. PRESENT EXAMPLES
 Simple present tense  The leaves of this tree fall
1. Indicate action happens once only.
once or regular interval.  These boys play hockey.
2. Present state of feeling,  I do painting on Sundays.
opinion or relation  He loves his mother.
3. Indicate permanent facts  Raj goes to his school at
4. Actions of books, plays, 7.00 am
and films.  This pen belongs to my
5. It is used in the dependent sister.
clause of time or condition.  Who knows Ravi's house?

10. PRESENT EXAMPLES
 Present continuous tense:  Boys are playing outside.
1. Indicating an action  I am visiting Mumbai today
incomplete in present time. evening.
2. Indicate an action take  Ravi is coming to Mumbai
place in immediate future. next week.
3. Used for talking about  They are always giving
something or decided to parties.
do.  Our teacher is always giving
4. When a ‘serious of actions’ us tests.
is there for a limited time.  They love their mother.

11. PRESENT EXAMPLES
 Present perfect tense: this  Ravi has come.
tense indicates an action,  I have not received my
completed or rounded off in salary this month.
the present time, whose
effect remains till the time of
speaking or writing. It tells
us about the present status
of the act.

12. FUTURE EXAMPLES
 Simple future tense: it is  Ravi will play cricked today.
used for ‘direct action’ of  We shall visit Mumbai next
future. month.
 Future continuous tense: it  I am leaving for my office
is used to indicate an action just now.
that will be continuing some  I shall be playing with my
future time. brother when you come to
 Future perfect tense: it is my house tomorrow.
used to indicate the  I ‘shall have paid’ it to Ravi if
completion or rounding off of you come after 10.00 am.
an action in some future
time.